Dean Takes Leadership Classes at Harvard University this Summer

A Texas A&M International University dean will travel to Massachusetts this summer to participate in a highly selective summer leadership program at Harvard University for higher education institution administrators.

Dr. Rosa María Vida, dean of the College of Education, has been selected as one of three Texans and 30 in the country to attend classes at the Institute for the Management of Life Long Education (MLE) this year June 7-22.

The MLE is designed for skilled, experienced administrators and aims to help them enhance their approach to leadership and develop innovative ideas for the future of their institutions.

"The strength of the institute is that it brings together the participating administrators and looks at a set of challenges that current institutions are facing," Dr. Vida said. "Some of the challenges are unique population demographics, cultural diversity, distance learning, the admission process for non-traditional students and staff development."

Vida said that challenges that universities face today are different from those in the past and that universities must work on new strategies if they are to succeed in the future. For example, A&M International has grown from a small, closely knit University to a larger university with a new student population and new challenges, she added.

"I am so excited about being selected to participate. I think this is going to broaden my abilities to lead the College of Education to the 21st Century," Vida said.

Participants in the 1997 session of MLE included the vice president of research, assessment at Liberty University (VA); provost at Pennsylvania State University-Harrisburg; dean of the School of Human Development and Community Service at California State University Fullerton; associate provost for external affairs and special programs at Rutgers University (NJ); dean of liberal arts at the College of Du Page (IL); associate provost at the University of Kansas; president of Lincoln Memorial University (TN); dean of instruction at Coastline Community College (CA); dean of lifelong learning at St. Bonaventure University (NY); vice chancellor for administration at the University of Michigan-Flint; director of the On-Line Learning program at Temple University (PA) and director of the Office of Client Development at Pennsylvania State University.

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